Stem-winding-and-setting timepiece



Aug. 6, 1935.

E. L. CARLSON STEM WINDING AND SETTING TIMEPIECE Filed Jan. 6, 1934 Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Elof L. Carlson,

E. Ingraham poration Application January 6,

.4 Claims.

This invention relates to stem-winding-andsetting timepieces, and more particularly to retaming-means for the pivot-screw of the shifterarm of such timepieces.

Heretofore, in stem-winding-and-setting timepieces, the pivot-screw of the shifter-arm has had a marked tendency to become loose notwithstanding repeated efforts over a period of years by those skilled in the art, to overcome this difficulty. 7

One cause of the previous inability to solve this problem has resided in the fact that timepieces employing this construction have been comparatively small in size and, therefore, place distinct limitations upon the introduction of additional parts for the purpose of solving this problem.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved construction particularly adapted to timepieces of the nature above referred to for effectively preventing the loosening of the first screw of the shifter-arm.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a construction which not only is extremely eifective in operation, but which also is of minimum cost, whereby it can be applied to watches of low cost.

With the above and other objects in view, this invention includes the improved features, parts and combinations of parts disclosed in the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification.

In the accompanying drawing, in which one way of carrying out the invention is shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the movement of a stem-winding-and-setting watch made in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a left-end elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the retaining or locking-plate of this invention; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the watch movement I 0 includes front and rear movement-plates II and I2 respectively, joined together by means of a plurality of pillars l3 and screws I4.

In the usual construction of stem-setting-andwinding watches, the stem l5, having a winding and-setting button 16, is rotatably engaged with fingers ll of a shifter-arm I8, which latter is pivotally mounted at IS on the shift-arm pivotscrew 20, which pivot-screw has its head 2| ex- Bristol, Conn., assignor to The Company, Bristol, Conn, a cor- 1934, Serial No. 705,533

tending out through a hole 22 in the rear movement-plate !2. When the stem I5 is in its innermost position, the shifter-arm I8 is also in its innermost position and, through suitable mechanism, results in the winding of the watch upon 5 the winding-and-setting button l6 being turned in the proper direction.

When the stem I 5 is pulled to its outermost position, the engagement of the fingers ll of the shifter-arm l8 with the stem causes the shifterarm i8 to be swung about its pivot to its outermost position, to cause the engagement of suitable well-known mechanism with the stem l5, whereby turning of the winding-and-setting button I6 results in the turning of the hands of the watch for the purpose of setting the same, as is well known.

After the watch has been set to its correct position, the stem I5 is again pushed back to its normal innermost position, which carries the shifter-arm to its normal innermost winding position. The construction previously referred to and the mode of winding and setting the watch is all of regular and well-known operation as has been long practiced in the art. 25

The above-described in-and-out shifting of the stem I 5 with the shifting back and forth of the shifter-arm i 8, all under substantial stress, results in alternating stresses upon the shifter-arm pivot-screw 20, with consequent well-known tendency to loosen the pivot-screw notwithstanding numerous and varied type efiorts to overcome this loosening of the pivot-screw.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a retaining or locking-plate 23, preferably of spring steel, having a pocket or cup-portion 24 to fit over the head 2| of the pivot-screw 20 and having an arm provided with an aperture/8 adapted to register with a hole 21 in the rear movement-plate l2 and also register with a threaded hole 28 in one of the pillars l3 (Fig. 3) whereby one of the ordinary standard screws l4 not only engages within the threaded hole 28 in the pillar [3 to do its part in holding the movement-plates II and [2 together, but also at the same time serves to hold the retaining-plate 23 in proper position with the pocket 24 over the head 2! of the pivot-screw 20.

If desired, the end of the arm 25 of the retaining-plate beyond the aperture 25 can be provided with a locking-split 29 having a locking-edge 30, or oppositely-extending locking-edges 30 and 3| (Fig. 5), thus further aiding in preventing loosening of the screw M. This retaining or locking construction which employs my retain- 55 ing-plate 23 is entirely efiective in practice in holding the pivot-screw 20 against loosening, and at the same time provides a readily-assembled construction of minimum cost and which is so thin as to not substantially increase the thickness of the time-instrument at this location.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than that herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appendedclaims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. A time-instrument including: a movementplate provided with a hole therethrough; a shifter-arm pivot-screw having its head extending through said hole; a retaining-plate engaged over the head of said pivot-screw and having an arm; and a removable screw extending through saidiarm and said movement-plate and serving to removably secure said arm to said movementplate.

2.. A time-instrument including: a movementplate provided with a hole therethrough; a

shifter-arm.pivot-screw having its head extending through said hole; a retaining-plate engaged over the head of said pivot-screw and having an arm provided with an aperturenear the end of the arm, the end of the arm beyond said aperture being provided with a locking-split; and a screw extending through said aperture and securing the arm to the movement-plate.

3. A time-instrument including: a pair of movement-plates; means including a pillar connecting said movement-plates together; one of said movement-plates being provided with a first hole and a second hole therethrough; a shifterarm pivot-screw having its head extending through said first hole; said pillar aligned with said second hole; a retaining-plate engaged over the head of said pivot-screw and having an arm provided with an aperture registering with said second hole; and a screw extending through said aperture and into said pillar and serving both to secure said arm to said one movement-plate and to secure said one movement-plate to said pillar.

4. A time-instrument including: a pair of movement-plates; means including a pillar connecting said movement-plates together; one of said movement-plates being provided with a first hole and, a second hole therethrough; a shifter-arm pivot-screw having its head extending throughsaid first hole; said pillar aligned with said second'hole; a retaining-plate engaged over the'head of said pivot-screw and having an I arm provided with an aperture registering with said second hole, the end of said arm beyond said aperture being provided with a lockingsplit; and a screw extending through said aperture and into said pillar and serving both to secure said arm to said one movement-plate and to secure said one movement-plate to said pillar. ELOF L. CARLSON. 

